Pope Francis Fires Conservative U.S. Bishop

ROME—Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of the pope’s most vocal critics in the U.S. hierarchy, the Vatican said Saturday.

The Vatican said that the pope had “relieved [the bishop] of the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Texas, and appointed Bishop Joe Vázquez of Austin as “apostolic administrator,” or acting bishop, of Tyler.

“I’m saddened for the harm to the faithful but at peace in His Truth, stay Jesus Strong,” Strickland wrote via email on Saturday, in response to a request for comment. Asked about his plans, he replied: “Just praying for now.”

Strickland’s firing follows a Vatican investigation this summer, which led to the conclusion that “the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible,” according to a statement on Saturday from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who oversees the Catholic hierarchy in southeastern Texas. The cardinal’s statement didn’t specify why Strickland’s departure was recommended. The request for Strickland’s resignation was presented to him on Thursday, but the bishop declined to give it, DiNardo said.

It is extremely rare for the pope to remove a bishop in such a manner, as opposed to requesting and receiving his resignation. In September, Strickland told Religion News Service that he would not step down voluntarily but acknowledged that the pope had the power to remove him.

The loss of his role overseeing the diocese doesn’t deprive Strickland of his rank as a bishop.

Frankies idea....Toss all the believing Catholics and make sure sin is cool and bring in everyone who doesn’t want to get rid of their sins.....Then they can all go to hell together......Misery loves company and Frankie and his “”pals”” want lots of company......

Hi.

There are many reasons that schisms have happened in the Church.

Doctrine, Canon law, a heretic Pope, etc. Is the Holy Roman Catholic Church headed for a schism?

5.56mm

Not that Bergoglio cares (because he’s all about destroying the Church), but this is asinine from a liability perspective. When the trial lawyers have tried to join the Holy See as a defendant in the sex abuse lawsuits, the latter has defended it on the grounds that local dioceses are independent entities not subsidiaries of the Vatican. That defense is blown up if the pope indeed has operational control of the Tyler diocese such that he can fire personnel.

We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church ⛪️. Francis is unholy, he decimates the apostolic succession, and he ties the Roman church with Islam, paganism, perversion, and everything EXCEPT those who place Christ on the Throne, so it cannot be the Catholic, meaning universal church.

In short, Francis has succeeded in removing the glory of God from the Roman temple, a la Ezekiel 10. To annotate the actual, original Peter, if we are to be true to Christ, we must obey God rather than Francis’ Apostasyworld.

Galloping Papalism was completely made up starting in the late 1800s. No bishop has authority to go above and beyond the all agreed upon 7 ecumenical councils, even the Bishop of Rome.

Apostle Peter spent his first 15 years in and around Antioch before being called-up to Rome. Doesn’t that make Patriarch John X of Antioch Pope (but he has no horse)?

“...and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” - Acts 11:26

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.